Retake ACT despite good SAT scores?

<p>I got a 2290 on the SAT (790 CR, 710 M, 790 W), which I believe is competitive for any school in the country, so I'm not retaking that. However, I'm not sure if I should retake the ACT or not. I never wanted to take the ACT, but I had to because I live in Illinois and it's required. I never studied for it, and got a 31 composite (35 English, 35 Reading, 30 Math, 25 Science). I did horribly on science because I didn't know what to expect from it and ran out of time, so I randomly bubbled in the last 10 questions. Anyway, I'm not going to send my ACT scores to colleges, but they'll see them anyway because it'll be on my transcript (though I'm not sure if only the composite will be or the breakdown will be too). Will it hurt me if they see that my ACT score is so much lower than my SAT? (Especially if they see the science score?) I really don't want to study for the ACT to retake it in September, but I don't want that score to hurt me. </p>

<p>Also, would it be at all advantageous to score well on the ACT even though my SAT is already fairly high? I think a 2290 should be equivalent to about a 33 or 34, so is there any point in retaking the ACT if I can't score higher than that and the 31 I already have won't hurt me? I'm wondering this because although my SAT score isn't above the 75th percentile for say, Stanford (1500 isn't anyway), a 34 ACT would be (their middle 50% range is 29-33). So would a 34 ACT help more than a 1500/2290 SAT? </p>

<p>Honestly, I want to be done with testing so I can just concentrate on apps now, but I'm just wondering what other people think. Any input is appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.</p>

<p>I dont think colleges will care that your ACT score is so much lower. They probably only look at your highest score of either one. Because many people take both the ACT and the SAT to see which one they do better on...there is obviously one where you have the greatest strength in and do better on. But I don't know, thats just my opinion. Well for your second question...you should retake it if you feel you have the confidence to do really well. It probably isn't as necessary since you already have a great SAT score, but if you feel you can do really well then you should try.</p>

<p>How are your SAT II scores? If you're applying to colleges that require either ACT/W or SAT I and II, and your SAT IIs aren't up to par, you might rather submit a great ACT score and not submit SATs at all. In that case it would be to your advantage to get your ACT up a few points. Otherwise, your SAT is wonderful- congratulations!</p>

<p>If you retake the ACT, you can choose the higher of your two sittings to submit to the colleges, so in a way, you have nothing to lose by retesting. With the SAT, they will see every SAT1 and 2 you've taken.</p>

<p>I assume that since you mention Stanford, your GPA and ECs are in the top range too. If not, a test score alone won't make much of difference.</p>

<p>My SAT II scores are 790 Math IIC, 780 Japanese w/ Listening (non-native), 730 US History, and 690 Bio M. My GPA is 4.0 UW with the toughest courseload possible and I'm currently ranked first in my class. So I guess I'm okay numbers-wise. (Not too happy about the Bio score but I'm hoping that'll be overlooked since I have three others 700+ scores.) My ECs are decent; I don't have a three-page list with hundreds of volunteer hours and a bunch of lab internships like other people, but I've invested a lot of time into the ones I do have and have some leadership positions/distinctions in them. And I have some slightly unique things going for me too (teaching myself Japanese for 5 years to a fairly advanced level and things related to that). </p>

<p>If I studied for the ACT I'm pretty confident I could get a 33 or 34 (I'd really just have to work on science and math), but I'm reluctant to do that because I'm sick of studying and I'm not sure if a 34 or even a 35 (which I don't really think I could get) would help much. I'd rather spend my time researching colleges and working on apps if it won't help.</p>

<p>Umm.. Just send colleges your SAT scores but not the ACT ones. Is this not doable? You already have a 2290.... So just go with that, and not send colleges the ACT scores. Hell, why the hell did you take the ACT's when you had a 2290? ALmost every college only requires one of the two tests.</p>

<p>you all like a 31 is a death score</p>

<p>please</p>

<p>lastchancexi, did you even read my post? I'll requote myself for you in case you didn't catch it the first time though: </p>

<p>"I never wanted to take the ACT, but I had to because I live in Illinois and it's required."</p>

<p>"Anyway, I'm not going to send my ACT scores to colleges, but they'll see them anyway because it'll be on my transcript (though I'm not sure if only the composite will be or the breakdown will be too)."</p>

<p>And citygirlsmom, it's not the 31 composite I'm worried about so much as the 25 science.</p>

<p>Oh, sorry, I slack off. </p>

<p>That really sucks for you.</p>

<p>Are you required to send these scores to colleges? I imagine they would simply take your highest and ignore it... Eh.</p>